Traffic was stopped or redirected as about 1000 marchers took to Christchurch streets to protest against the lack of democracy in the city.

The march was organised to protest against the suspension of Environment Canterbury elections, the demolition of heritage buildings, school closures, and government acquisition of land in the CBD, amongst other issue dogging the rattled city.

Protesters marched from Latimer Square to Cranmer Square, shouting, “Our city, our say!” and “What do we want? Democracy! When do we want it? Now!”

Some protesters painted portraits of Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee dressed as Kate Sheppard to remind him of the suffragette movement in Canterbury.

Organiser Wayne Hawker said the suspension of democracy in Christchurch had national implications.

“If they can do that to us, a major metropolitan, they can do that anywhere in the country.